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Together with calling on us to supplicate to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) in our needs the Quran also goes on to assure that Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) is very close to His servants: He hears their petitions and grants them.

When my servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close to them. I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on me.

The holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) also assures that to beg to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) for our needs, to turn to Him and to make our petitions to Him, is the very essence and marrow of worship.

Says he:

“Du’a (making of earnest entreaties to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa)) is worship.” (According to another version, the Tradition reads: “Du’a is the essence and marrow of worship).”

“Nothing enjoys a loftier place in the sight of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) than Du’a”.

Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) is displeased with those who do not beg for their needs to Him. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) is reported to have said, “Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) is displeased with His servant who does not supplicate for his needs to him.”

Glory be! If a person approaches a close friend or a near relative with his needs every now and then they get sick of him, but Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) is so marvelously gracious and benevolent to His servants that He gets angry if they do not turn to Him in their need.

A Tradition says:

“For whom the doors of Du’a have opened for him the doors of mercy have opened.”

Anyway, to pray to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) for one’s needs or for the realization of one’s ambition is not only a means to their fulfillment but also a superb act of worship and Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) is very happy with him who does so. He opens the gates of His mercy for him. This is true of all supplications whether they be of a religious or spiritual nature or for a worldly need. The only condition is that the object or need should be of a lawful and legitimate kind. To pray for an improper or sinful thing is also improper and sinful.

The greater the depth of feeling, the stronger the realization of one’s own helplessness and the firmer the conviction of Divine Omnipotence and Benevolence with which a prayer is made, the greater the chances are of its acceptance. A prayer which does not spring from their heart but is uttered only by the mouth as a formality is not a prayer.

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) says:

“Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) does not grant a prayer that is made with a sleeping heart.”

Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) listens to prayers at all hours but we learn from Traditions that there are certain occasions on which if a prayer is made it stands greater chances of acceptance as, for instance, after a Farz (obligatory) Namaz, during the later part of the night, at the time of breaking a fast or at any other moment of a similar nature when a good act is performed, and during the course of a journey particularly when it is undertaken for a religious purpose and for the sake of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa).